Sweden's Iranian Community and Its Attitude Towards Israel and Jews

Approximately four million Iranians live outside their home country today. As a proportion of the local population, Sweden is home to the largest Iranian expatriate community in the world - some 121,000 strong. Its members are diverse in all respects and have achieved remarkable success in their new country. This article examines attitudes held by Swedes of Iranian origin about Israel, as well as the factors that influence these attitudes. Data were gathered by means of a Swedish-language questionnaire distributed to members of the local Iranian community via social networks. Their answers suggest that most of the Iranian diaspora holds a conciliatory attitude towards the Iranian- Israeli conflict and may have the potential to effect a rapprochement between the two countries. However, many members of the community are passive or silent, clearly exposed to the threat of their home country's regime. Hence, it may not be possible for them to realize their peace-making potential.